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Alan K | profile | all galleries >> Victoria (Especially Melbourne) >> 2010 12 Old Melbourne Gaol (Jail) (Fri 24 Dec 10) tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

2005 to 2011 Miscellaneous Melbourne | 2009 04 A Day And A Bit In Bleak City (Sat 11 Apr 09) | 2010 07 A Walk Down Lonsdale Street (Sat 10 Jul 10) | 2010 04 Ron Mueck at the National Gallery Of Victoria (Sat 03 April 10) | 2010 12 Old Melbourne Gaol (Jail) (Fri 24 Dec 10) | 2011 06 Another Day And A Bit In Melbourne (Fri 03 Jun to Sat 04 Jun 11) | 2011 10 Up In The Air (Melbourne) (Mon 03 Oct 11) | 2011 09 to 2011 10 West Of Melbourne | 2015 06 The Foodie And Theatre Tour, June 2015 (Tue 23 to Wed 24 Jun 15)

2010 12 Old Melbourne Gaol (Jail) (Fri 24 Dec 10)

*** CAUTION: SOME MAY FIND SOME IMAGES IN THIS GALLERY DISTURBING ***

The old Melbourne Gaol (or Jail) is located in Russell Street Melbourne. Work on it began in 1841, with the first block opening in 1845. It was already overcrowded by 1850, and a second block was built between 1852 and 1858. This is the block that remains today. At its height the gaol covered an entire city block.

Its most famous resident was Ned Kelly, a bushranger (highwayman, armed robber, call him what you will) from the colonial days, famous for wearing suits of armour to protect against gunfire from police. (Unfortunately for him, he forgot that the police also know how to aim at un-armoured legs.) He was hung here in 1880, and his death mask appears in the gallery. (As do some others, which is why I caution about the contents.)

The gaol closed in 1924 but was reopened briefly during World War II to house military detainees, mostly those who went AWOL. It's been open as a museum since 1972. I'm glad to have gone to see it but have to admit to having had a very uncomfortable feeling through my entire time there.

The tour also includes an interactive exhibit where you can go through the process of being charged and booked into the system. However as I was feeling weird enough during the jail tour I decided that if even a pretend copper wanted to even pretend to charge me, they'd have to catch me at it first.
090704_135839_3820 Leave A Light On For Me (Sat 04 Jul 09)
090704_135839_3820 Leave A Light On For Me (Sat 04 Jul 09)
101224_113852_13184 A Cellblock Overview (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_113852_13184 A Cellblock Overview (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_114055_13185 The Old Ball And Chain I (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_114055_13185 The Old Ball And Chain I (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_114127_13187 The Old Ball And Chain II (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_114127_13187 The Old Ball And Chain II (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_114256_13189 The Condemned Cell I (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_114256_13189 The Condemned Cell I (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_114310_13190 The Condemned Cell II (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_114310_13190 The Condemned Cell II (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_114436_13193 The Calico Hood (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_114436_13193 The Calico Hood (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_114501_13196 No Man, But The Iron Mask Is Here (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_114501_13196 No Man, But The Iron Mask Is Here (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_114526_13198 Leather Gloves (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_114526_13198 Leather Gloves (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_114918_13201 Death Masks I - George Melville (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_114918_13201 Death Masks I - George Melville (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_115028_13203 George Melville Up Close (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_115028_13203 George Melville Up Close (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_115231_13206 Rogue's Gallery (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_115231_13206 Rogue's Gallery (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_115457_13210 A Single Cell; The Pentonville Experience (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_115457_13210 A Single Cell; The Pentonville Experience (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_120010_13212 Frederick Bailey Deeming; A Nasty Piece Of Work (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_120010_13212 Frederick Bailey Deeming; A Nasty Piece Of Work (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_120240_13217 All The Comforts of... Not Much, Really, With In Room Dining (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_120240_13217 All The Comforts of... Not Much, Really, With In Room Dining (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_120647_13219 Graffiti in the Cell - Military Prisoners (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_120647_13219 Graffiti in the Cell - Military Prisoners (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_120827_13220 Not Just Bad Boys, Bad Girls Too (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_120827_13220 Not Just Bad Boys, Bad Girls Too (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_121324_13223 Ned Is Dead. And I'm OK With That (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_121324_13223 Ned Is Dead. And I'm OK With That (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_122003_13225 Stupid Is As Stupid Does – Ned Kelly's Armour (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_122003_13225 Stupid Is As Stupid Does – Ned Kelly's Armour (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_122608_13237 The Last Sight - For Some (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_122608_13237 The Last Sight - For Some (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_122642_13238 Ned, Overhead. Still Dead. (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_122642_13238 Ned, Overhead. Still Dead. (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_122815_13243 The Hangman's Box (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_122815_13243 The Hangman's Box (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_122839_13244 The Hangman's Rope (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_122839_13244 The Hangman's Rope (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_123341_13247 The Luxury Of Space And Labour (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_123341_13247 The Luxury Of Space And Labour (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_123420_13250 Everybody Needs Good Neighbours. (Cells 8 and 9) (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_123420_13250 Everybody Needs Good Neighbours. (Cells 8 and 9) (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_123532_13255 Solid (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_123532_13255 Solid (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_123631_13256 Cell 17, Booga-Booga-Booga! (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_123631_13256 Cell 17, Booga-Booga-Booga! (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_123649_13257 Iron And Stone (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_123649_13257 Iron And Stone (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_123742_13260 A Bit Of Perspective (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_123742_13260 A Bit Of Perspective (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_123826_13263 Just Visiting (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_123826_13263 Just Visiting (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_125034_13266 Down To The Gallows, And Missed Chances (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_125034_13266 Down To The Gallows, And Missed Chances (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_125124_13269 The Lashing Triangle (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_125124_13269 The Lashing Triangle (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_125856_13272 What Was (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_125856_13272 What Was (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_125935_13273 Back To The Beginning (Fri 24 Dec 10)
101224_125935_13273 Back To The Beginning (Fri 24 Dec 10)